Multipurpose finger-attached accessory



Sept. 14, 1954 M. M. THOMAS MULTIPURPOSE FINGER-ATTACHED ACCESSORY Filed June 1, 1953 May Mazyc/r Thomas INVENTOR.

BY Ww fiM and Patented Sept. 14, 1 954 MULTIPURPOSE FINGER-ATTACHED ACCESSORY May Mazyck Thomas, Shreveport, La.

Application June 1, 1953, Serial No. 358,617

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a .novel article of manufacture which, as the title implies, is purposed to serve as a multi-purpose finger-attached accessory or appliance, the same being applicable to the hand of a baby or small child to serve primarily as a so-called thumb sucking inhibitor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a finger-attached accessory which, because of its unique form and construction, constitutes a highly satisfactory teething ring which is novel in that it is attached to and retained on the thumb or one of the fingers of the users hand.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose finger-attached accessory which may be aptly characterized as an improved device which may be distinguished from similarly constructed and performing prior art devices in that it serves in the capacity of a teething ring on the one hand and a thumb sucking inhibitor on the other hand, the preferred construction being such that it may be readily slipped on the thumb of the wearer for adequate retention in a manner that the wearer cannot, obviously, intentionally or otherwise detach it from the thumb.

Briefly summarized, the accessory in a structural unitary sense comprises an expansible and contractile finger-stall provided on its outer usable end with means designed to safely forestall and hinder the act of the wearer of putting a predetermined finger into the mouth, whereby to thus frustrate the wearer and to aptly minimize finger sucking.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the stated construction wherein the over-all accessory is intentionally constructed of sanitary water-proof materials susceptible ofbeing safely sterilized or otherwise cleansed to render the same aseptically clean.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on the stated construction wherein the expansible and contractile finger-stall has an integral loop at its outer end, said loop and finger-stall being satisfactorily fabricated and fashioned from plastic braiding or equivalent strips, plaited and thus interwoven into desired shape and form and with the loop preferably covered, either with a pliant plastic sheath or a relatively hard rubber envelope or sheath to attain the above mentioned two-way results, whereby to meet the requirements of manufacturers and needs of users.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a multipurpose finger-attached accessory constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and illustrating the manner in which the same is attached for use to the wearers thumb;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of theaccessory by itself; and a Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Figure 2,.looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing by way of reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the aforementioned expansible and contractile fingerstall is denoted by the numeral 4. This stall is a generally well known type which, when lengthened, contracts and binds, and whenshortened, increases its diameter for purposes ofremoval. It is constructed or fashioned from commercial plastics in the form of braiding strips 6-6 which, as shown, are braided or otherwise interwoven in a now well known fashion to form an openended stall, that is, open at the end 8. This type of a stall is sometimes referred to as a Chinese finger trap. The same braiding material, however, is fashioned not only into the stall but also into what is here referred to as a loop IE] on the outer end of the stall. It is'within the purview of the invention to utilize an uncovered loop, but it is preferred that the loop be covered in the manner shown in the drawing. Therefore, the covering envelope or material is denoted at I2, and it encases the braided loop and defines what is broadly referred to as a teething ring [4. In some instances, pliant plastic covering material [2 is used. In other instances, a comparatively or relatively hard rubber jacket or covering is employed. This is because of the fact that some teething rings are preferably hard, or relatively so, and others highly resilient with desired'cushioning properties. In any event, the loop or ring, whichever is preferred, serves as a sort of inhibitor or guard whose purpose is to minimize finger sucking while, at the same time, providing, whenever desired, a teething ring.

When the attachment is in use, the wearer, usually a baby or small child, cannot conveniently bend the thumb or remove the finger-stall. On the other hand, it is capable of being readily removed by the mother, in an obvious manner, that is, by pushing the finger-stall against the base of the thumb and spreading it sufliciently so that it will open up and slip off. In practice, the device will be made in various sizes to comply with the requirements of all concerned.

I It is desirable, too, to stress the fact that the materials stated are variable, but must, under any circumstances, be free from raw edges so as to be snag-proof and to lend themselves to satisfactory sanitary requirements by being properly washable or, for that matter, capable of complete sterilization.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multi-purpose finger-attached accessory for application to a thumb or one of the fingers of a small childs hand comprising a teething r'ing provided with an attached self-retaining finger-stall. v I

2. A mu'lti-purpose finger-attached accessory for application to a thumb or .one of the fingers of a small childs hand comprising an expansible and contractile finger-stall provided on its outer usable end with a compressibly resilient teething 3. A multi-purpose finger-attached accessory for application to a thumb of one of the fingers of a small childs hand comprising an expansible and contractile finger-stall having a loop on its outer end, said loop and finger-stall being fabricated and fashioned from plastic braiding plaited and thus interwoven into desired shape and form. The structure defined in claim 3, and a pliant plastic sheath wholly encasing said loop.

5. The structure defined in claim 3, and a relatively hard rubber sheath wholly encasing said loop.

6. A multi-purpose finger-attached accessory for'application to a thumb or one of the fingers bodying a teething ring.

References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED S'lfATES PATENTS Number 1 Name I Date Mitchell Dec. 31, 1912 

